CONCEPTION • FREE TRANSLATOR.ORG • Definition of Conception

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/kənsˈɛpʃən/ Listen

noun

Conception n.

1.

The act of conceiving in the womb; the initiation of an embryonic animal life. "I will greaty multiply thy sorrow and thy conception."

2.

The state of being conceived; beginning. "Joy had the like conception in our eyes."

3.

The power or faculty of apprehending of forming an idea in the mind; the power of recalling a past sensation or perception. "Under the article of conception, I shall confine myself to that faculty whose province it is to enable us to form a notion of our past sensations, or of the objects of sense that we have formerly perceived."

4.

The formation in the mind of an image, idea, or notion, apprehension. "Conception consists in a conscious act of the understanding, bringing any given object or impression into the same class with any number of other objects or impression, by means of some character or characters common to them all."

5.

The image, idea, or notion of any action or thing which is formed in the mind; a concept; a notion; a universal; the product of a rational belief or judgment. See Concept. "He (Herodotus) says that the sun draws or attracts the water; a metaphorical term obviously intended to denote some more general and abstract conception than that of the visible operation which the word primarily signifies."

6.

Idea; purpose; design. "Note this dangerous conception."

7.

Conceit; affected sentiment or thought. (Obs.) "He... is full of conceptions, points of epigram, and witticism."

Synonyms: Idea; notion; perception; apprehemsion; comprehension.

See images of 'Conception'

Etymology of 'Conception'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Conception" Quotes from Famous Books

... descriptions of the "wild people" which were being published. In a "Report", ascribed to Gen. Oglethorpe, it is stated that "nothing is lacking for their conversion to the Christian faith except a knowledge of their language, for they already have an admirable conception of 'morals', and their conduct agrees perfectly therewith. They have a horror of adultery, and disapprove of polygamy. Thieving is unknown to them. Murder is considered an abominable crime, and no one may be killed except an enemy, when they esteem ...

— The Moravians in Georgia - 1735-1740 • Adelaide L. Fries

... or his commentators; and the duty of the critic was to consider whether the author had infringed or conformed to the established rules, and to pass sentence accordingly. I will not say that the modern critic has abandoned altogether that conception of his duty. He seems to me not infrequently to place himself on the judgment-seat with a touch of his old confidence, and to sentence poor authors with sufficient airs of infallibility. Sometimes, indeed, the reflection that he is representing ...

— English Literature and Society in the Eighteenth Century • Leslie Stephen

... preconceived prejudice against the ordinary feminine member of "The Profession" had, during his intercourse with Cap'n Abe's niece, been lulled to sleep. Miss Louder and Miss Noyes more nearly embodied his conception of actresses—nice enough young women, perhaps, but ...

— Cap'n Abe, Storekeeper • James A. Cooper

... desire by a few Scriptural texts and a few suggestions to deepen the reader's conception of the state of holiness. Everything in the realm of Christianity, or the kingdom of God, from heaven to earth is holy. Let us here give you a brief Bible lesson, kindly asking you ...

— The Gospel Day • Charles Ebert Orr

... et Inferno; or A Treatise concerning Heaven and Hell, and of the wonderful Things therein heard and seen. London, 1758, 4to. "By this work the reader may attain to some conception of the heavenly kingdom, and may learn therein that all social virtues, and all the tender affections that give consistence and harmony to society, and do honour to humanity, find place and exercise in the utmost purity in those delectable ...

— Bibliomania; or Book-Madness - A Bibliographical Romance • Thomas Frognall Dibdin

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